Chapter Two:

Luke looked up at some point and realized he was standing just outside a small diner that was open all-hours. Realizing it was only 05:00; Luke released a tired breath and made his way inside.

Once there he was greeted by a waitress in her late forties.

"Hey Honey, make yourself comfortable." She greeted him in a motherly fashion. "Sit wherever you want, and a server will be with you shortly."

Luke smiled kindly. "Thank you."

He scanned the area, searching for a quiet corner, and spotted a booth in the far corner. He made his way over, and was just about to sit when he noticed it was already occupied.

Luke froze for a heartbeat as he recognized the woman sitting before him, wrapped up in a menu, but her red-gold hair and Force signature were unmistakable.

"Mara?"

She jumped, and looked at him with tired eyes. "Skywalker?"

Luke smiled in spite of his dour mood. "May I join you?"

She glanced around the restaurant pointedly. "And there aren't any other booths available?"

Luke shrugged. "To be honest, I could do with some unbiased company tonight."

Mara lifted a brow at that. She bit her lip, and then shrugged.

"Sure, have a seat."

Luke's smile broadened. "Thank you."

"And knock that smile off your face." Mara growled. "It's too early for such a sunny attitude."

Luke dutifully wiped the smirk from his face, already feeling better. But he allowed his amusement to seep through his mental shields.

"What brings you out so early?" Luke asked curiously.

"What's it to you?" Mara asked warily.

"Mere curiosity." Luke replied. "As for me, I'm avoiding Leia."

Mara smirked at that. "Sister troubles, eh?"

Luke sighed, some of his earlier frustration returning. "Yes. I wish for once she would just stop trying to play matchmaker."

Mara seemed taken aback by his confession. "Matchmaker?"

Luke nodded, a bit embarrassed, but since he'd started this he wanted to finish it. Besides, this was Mara. Who better to vent to if he wanted a straight-up honest answer to his problem?

"She is intent on seeing me married, or at least to have a lady on my arm." Luke complained. "I love her, but sometimes she makes me angry. And it would be nice to be treated like an adult who can handle his own affairs."

Mara looked away at this, and murmured a reply. "I'm sure she's just trying to help."

Luke rubbed the back of his neck. "I know. But sometimes her… advice is not so helpful. Or wanted."

"What did she do to get you so riled up?" Mara inquired.

"I tried to bow out of attending the Grand Coruscant Ball by saying I didn't have anyone to attend with." Luke groused. "She told me to pick a girl off the street to take to the ball like all I wanted was a one night fling."

Mara shook her head. "That doesn't sound like Leia. Maybe she was just trying to get you to stop being a coward?"

"Coward?" Luke narrowed his eyes.

"Maybe that's too strong a word." Mara admitted. "Just give in like she wants and attend the ball. Might as well save yourself the heartache and just agree."

Luke relaxed. "You're right."

Mara nodded. Just then another waitress came and took their orders.

"So, are you going to the ball then?" Mara asked once their server left.

Luke pressed his lips into a thin line. "I guess I am. Only I…"

"What?"

Luke blushed. "I can't dance."

Mara stared. "What?"

"I don't know how to dance very well. I embody the 'two left feet' cliché perfectly." Luke admitted, his face going a shade redder.

Mara cocked her head, brow furrowed. "But how did you get through all the other events? This is hardly your first ball."

"Oh, I danced… the few times I couldn't find excuses not to." Luke said. "And those few times were hardly memorable. I uh, cheated you could say."

Mara had to smirk at this. "Ah, so the Great Master admits to a darker streak?"

Luke smiled too. "Yeah, I used the Force to remember the steps, and to keep my partners from feeling any pain when I stepped on their feet."

Mara shook her head. "Stang; and I thought I had it rough."

Luke looked up at her. "What about you? Will you be there?"

Mara did not miss the hopeful note to his tone.

She sighed heavily. "Yes. Karrde wants me to see if I can sweet talk a few new clients."

Luke frowned. "You don't seem too happy about it. I thought you liked your career?"

Mara glared. "I wouldn't expect you to understand, thank you."

Luke opened his mouth to object, but their food arrived, cutting him off.

The pair delved onto their meals eagerly, grateful for the companionable silence that reigned. Luke stole surreptitious glances at her throughout the meal. Mara looked like she had been tossing and turning on a pillow, and she had the beginnings of dark circles under her eyes.

But even with her hair disheveled, and her face drawn with weary lines, she was a lovely sight to behold. Luke found himself smiling into his hot chocolate more than once.

When Luke pushed his empty plate away, he sat back and observed his companion openly. Mara shifted under his gaze, but said nothing. Luke dropped his eyes to alleviate her discomfort.

Finally Mara finished her own meal, and wiped her mouth. Luke glanced up, and smiled.

"So, are you going to be on Coruscant until the ball?" he asked.

"Yes. There's no point in taking a job that could make me late. Karrde told me to take a few days to myself."

Luke nodded. "I agree, you deserve a break."

Mara opened her mouth as if to retort that, but shut it again. "I guess."

"You don't think so?"

She shrugged. "I like to keep busy."

Luke pursed his lips. "We could train together?" he offered.

Mara sneered at that. "I don't feel like becoming one of your mass-students, thank you."

Luke leaned forward, eyeing her. "Would you prefer something more private?" he asked gingerly.

Mara couldn't contain her surprise at that. "What?"

Luke shrugged. "Maybe I'm off base here, but why not try a new approach? You refuse any of my other offers, so this me testing new waters."

Mara simply gazed at him.

"I… don't know." she said cautiously.

"Well…" Luke bit his lip. "How about a trade then?"

"A trade?"

Luke smirked in triumph for a second. "Aye Master Trader Jade. I propose a trade: you teach me how to dance. But in lessons with just the two of us; and I will give you any Jedi lessons you want in private sessions in return."

Mara had to admit that this was what she had been hoping for since she'd first gone to Luke's academy on Yavin IV. She wasn't one for the large class-approach to teaching and learning.

She had grown up on private lessons, and that was how she favored learning. Besides, one-on-one lessons with Luke Skywalker had other appeals.

Mara frowned to herself. It does? What does that mean?

An inner voice spoke to her. 'You can't tell me you didn't want private lessons with Luke in the hopes of getting closer to him.'

But I am closer. We are friends. That's more than we were when we met.

'And that's all you want from him? Friendship?'

He doesn't want me like that. Besides, even if he did, he could find someone much better for him… someone with a real natural beauty.

"Mara?"

Luke's voice drew Mara from her musing, and she clamped down on the nagging voice in her mind. This was what she had wanted to begin with and now that the branch was being extended, how could she not take it?

"Alright, Skywalker, you've got yourself a deal." Mara extended a hand, which Luke took.

"When would you like to start?" Luke asked.

"How about this evening?" Mara yawned. "I'm bushed. Didn't sleep much last night."

Luke allowed a sly grin to play slowly across his features. "Ah, so the truth comes out."

Mara lifted her chin wryly. "And you can claim better?"

Luke chuckled. "Guilty as charged."

"Go home, Skywalker. Smooth things over with Leia before she sends the Calvary after you." Mara advised.

Luke grimaced. "Right. Tell you what; I'll get some sleep if you do."

Mara was too tired to argue with that. "Done."

"I'll see you at the gym then?" Luke asked as they exited the diner.

"The one at my building has private rooms." Mara offered. "Perfect for our sessions."

"Not if you want to include lightsaber sparring in those lessons." Luke pointed out.

"True. We can move to the larger halls for that." Mara decided. "Meet me at 20:00 hours?"

"I'll be there." Luke said. "Oh, and Mara?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Mara grimaced wearily. "Don't thank me just yet, Skywalker."